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(No Model.)

' A. GAMARD.

FOLDING COOP.

No. 354,894. Patented Dec. 28, 1886.

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UNITED STATE PATENT OFF CE.

ALFRED GAMARD, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

FOLDING COOP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 35%,894, dated December 28, 1886.

Application filed January 26, 1886. Serial No. 189,860. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALFRED GAMARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Folding Coop; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon,whioh form apart of thisspecification.

. My invention relates to that class of receptacles for the transportation of vegetable produce, barnyard fowls, and the like, which, for convenience, are adapted to be folded into a narrower space when returned to the shipper.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrative of the invention, Figure 1 represents an end view of the receptacle in position for use, a portion being shown as broken away to illustrate the manner of hingeing the end boards. Fig. 2 represents an end view of the same in a partially-folded position, the end boards being folded upon the bottom of the receptacle. Fig. Srepresents a top plan-view of the receptacle. Fig. 4 represents aside elevation, and Fig. 5 represents a side elevation when the receptacle is completely folded.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Aindicates the bottom of the receptacle, provided with the three cross-pieces B B B? secured thereto. To the under side of these cross-pieces are secured the iron straps D D D bent upward and looped at their ends. The bottom A and the cross-pieces are out no away, as shown, so that these loop ends shall not extend beyond the plane of the edges of the bottom piece, where they would be exposed to accidental blows, tending to wrench off the said bands.

The top of the receptacle is made up of the side pieces, E E, provided with a suitable number of cross-pieces, F F F F, to which are attached the longitudinal slats G G, &c. A hinged door, H, is provided for the inser- 50 tion and removal of the contents.

At each end 'of the top piece, and midwaybetween said ends, are secured the iron bands L L L L I. L looped at their outer extremities. The top piece is cut away or slotted at its corners and midway of its sides for a simi- 5 5 lar purpose to that for which the bottom is in like manner slotted, as above described.

The sides of the receptacle are composed of slats M M, riveted or otherwise secured to the iron bands N N, looped at each end, as shown, and connecting-links O O O, 860., uniting these bands with each other and with the top and bottom bands, D L. The ends of the receptacle are composed of two doors, 0' O, hinged to the bottom thereof in such manner as to open inwardly and fold down upon said bottom. These doors are provided with hasps P P, which are adapted to engage with staples upon the cross-pieces F F, and be secured thereto when the doors are in the position shown in Figs. 1, 3, 2111(1'4. The doorhinge consists of a pin passing through the cross-piece E and bottom A, and bent at right angles through the loop of a strap attached to the inner side of the door. Twohinges are provided for each door.

The operation of my inventionis as follows: The receptacle being in the opened condition, (shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4,) in order to fold it for transportation it is necessary to release the hasps P P from their staples and fold the doors 0 0 down upon the bottom A. The sides are then caused to bend inwardly, as shown in Fig; 2, whereupon they fall down and rest upon the said end pieces, as shown in Fig. 5, which represents the receptacle as entirely closed and ready for shipment.

I am aware that it has been heretofore proposed to provide a folding receptacle of the kind described with end doors folding inwardly and inwardly-folding sides, and I do not broadly claim the same as of my invention; but

WVhat I do claim,a11d desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- 5 A folding receptacle of the kind described, consisting of hinged end pieces folding inwardly, sidepieces folding inwardly, said side pieces being composed of bands looped at each end,slats secured to said bands, and links 0011- I00 necting said bands with each other, a top and In testimony whereof Iaflix my signaturein 10 a bottom piece cut away at their corners and presence of two witnesses.

midway of their length, bands secured to the 1 top and bottom at each end and midway ALF. GAMARD.

- thereof and extending outwardly to the cutaway portions, and links located Within the Witnesses: cut-away portions and connecting the top and J 0s. MAILLE, bottom bands with the side bands, substan- L. P. PAQUET. tially as described. 

